Virtue Ethics

Linda Getnet

Hult International Business School

It is human nature to address issues seen in our environment and try to come about issues in humane
ways from a place of compassion. Ethics, therefore, are the means to which humans urge themselves to
do better from that place of compassion and virtue ethics is no different to other principles in this
aspect. Virtue Ethics is a branch of ethics that can be identified by its emphasis of outcome instead of
duties and rules. Virtue Ethics, being one of the three major approaches to normative ethics, focuses on
virtues or moral character and by focusing on consequences of actions can sometimes be referred to as
Consequentialism. This Consequentialism ethics can be seen contrasting from other principles like
deontologist teachings and outlooks as deontology tends to focus instead on moral duty or rules. While
a utilitarian might point out the consequences of an action and its outcomes on maximizing well-being, a
deontologist would be more focused on acting in accordance with one’s moral duty. To understand
virtue ethics further, we must look at these seemingly different ethical principles and outlooks as one
person cannot stand in just one ethical outlook. As some aspects of these different views may cross over
with both ethical approaches exploring ideas of virtue, consequences, and rules, looking into other
ethical outlooks can help better contrast and understand virtue ethics.

While virtue ethics is focused more on virtues, the ideas of it guaranteeing us virtue remains a topic of
argument, one talked upon by great historical philosophers. In western history, two common
philosophers to have discussed on this topic are Plato and Aristotle. Our concept of virtue ethics and
virtues itself, today, has been influenced by largely by these two ancient Greeks, particularly Aristotle
who had once asked “How can we perform virtues actions unless we are already virtuous?”. In
accordance with this statement, he had famously gone to elaborate on his views on virtues, saying that
we are only born with the ability to form virtues through habit. This simple explanation by Aristotle gives
us enough insight on the topic and if one can become more virtuous. According to Aristotle’s point of
view, one can enhance his ability to be virtuous through acting more on it or ‘habit’. Following Aristotle’s
definition, virtue ethicists made an effort to make a distinction between perfect virtue and strength of
will where the fully virtuous wouldn’t have to struggle with contrary struggles while the contrite have to
control their desires to do so, or become more virtuous.

When we refer to virtue ethics, we must address its emphasis on virtues. Virtue, and acting from a place
of virtue means to act on motivation. Therefore, motives behind moral questions is the center of virtue
ethics. Henceforth, when we say virtues are necessary to make correct moral decisions, we’re entailing
that that correct moral decisions need correct motives. In contrast to this moral stance, to further
elaborate on what was mentioned earlier, neither teleological nor deontological moral theories require
this aspect of motive behind moral questions or making moral decisions. Other moral theories also
follow a constant difficulty that is not found in virtue ethics. These difficulties are based off on what
action is right to take on in times of dilemmas, while virtue ethics does not make such an emphasis.
Elaborating on this, virtue ethics go ahead to advocate that once we start creating the person we want
to be, that we will not have a problem making right decisions during dilemmas. Instead, virtue ethics
focuses more on questions of what sort of person an individual wants to be, what virtues a person wants
their character to possess and what type of actions will reflect on the character of a person.

Virtue ethics still plays a role in our world today. By putting a special emphasis on the development of
human and moral character, it remains beneficial to application of our day to day lives. Managers and
Leaders have found the teachings of virtue ethics effective in that enables them to understand their own
values while also understanding their attitude towards others and consequently, their decision making.
Virtue ethics remains relevant today because it provides us with the tools to understand what we can
understand our capabilities, behaviors and how to improve on them. Virtue ethics can also be seen
affecting fields of social and political philosophy, giving us a balanced way of looking at societies,
education, health care ethics and more.

In conclusion, virtue ethics has come a long way; from ancient Greece to affecting our day to day lives
and careers today. Virtue does this by emphasis on motives, outcomes and basically, character. Due to
all these characteristics, it has come across as important during day to day issues whenever we are faced
with small problems or more major moral dilemmas. Even as virtue ethics is defined by Aristotle as two
different extremes, at struggling to being more virtuous or virtue coming easy to a person, it would be
hard to define virtue ethics in just these times. As certain moral judgements have bases on core
principles, they vary in definition based on classification and virtue ethics itself has many classifications.
Besides these internal classifications within virtue ethics, on more broader and general terms of
classifying Ethics, we can see the difference of Virtue Ethics from other branches of Ethics on its
emphasis on the ends and therefore, does not have difficulties justifying the means. However, as moral
judgement can be a relative thing on some aspects, to reap our benefits we must be willing to consider
each moral belief. While these ethical principles may seem to vary from each other drastically, and in
order for us to reap the benefits of virtue ethics, we must be able to borrow from other principles and
see these principalities of relativity. Even though we remain firm virtue ethics, by remaining open to
using other ethical principles in matters not addressed by virtue ethics, we will find the best benefits.

References

https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/brill/aristotle-on-becoming-virtuous-by-doing-virtuous-actions-
aOvFVcFFCF

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/

https://www.learnreligions.com/virtue-ethics-morality-and-character-249866

https://ombuds.web.cern.ch/blog/2013/05/virtue-ethics-and-its-applications#:~:text=Virtue%20ethics
%20puts%20a%20special%20emphasis%20on%20the,understand%20their%20attitude%20towards
%20others%20and%20their%20decision-making.